Physics

From the forces that keep athletes twirling and sliding, to the weird laws governing the world of the very small, to the far-out concepts of time travel and alternate universes, physics covers a lot of interesting territory. Here, Live Science keeps you abreast of all the fascinating physics discoveries.Physics

Related Topics: Elements, Chemical Reactions, Technology

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A close-up photo of Big Ben in London.

Pesky 'leap second' will be abolished by 2035

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

An international group of experts has voted to retire the leap second by 2035.

Image of the gamma-ray burst from the Swift observatory, showing a bright center surrounded by bands of orange circles.

Gamma-ray burst may represent the most powerful cosmic explosion ever recorded

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers stunned by 'brightest of all time' gamma-ray burst reckon it could be the most powerful space explosion since the Big Bang

An illustration of gravitational waves.

Nobel Prize in Physics: 1901-Present

By Live Science Staff published

Here's a look at all winners of the Nobel Prize in physics, including Steven Chu, Aage Niels Bohr and Enrico Fermi.

The Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Hans Ellegren announcing the winners.

Quantum 'spooky action at a distance' lands scientists Nobel prize in physics

By Ben Turner last updated

Their work has set the foundations for today’s fledgling quantum computers.

Plastic is hit with a green laser.

Scientists blasted plastic with lasers and turned it into tiny diamonds and a new type of water

By Robert Lea published

Shock-compressing PET plastics can create tiny nanodiamonds with a range of technological applications.

A Russian soldier guarding a checkpoint at the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Giant nuclear power plant in Ukraine is at risk of 'unlimited release' of nuclear materials unless a safety zone is established, UN warns

By Ben Turner last updated

The plant has been occupied by Russian forces since March 4.

Protons, made of three quarks, colliding

Weird quantum experiment shows protons have more 'charm' than we thought

By Stephanie Pappas published

Protons can contain a charm quark, an elementary particle 1.5 times heavier than the proton itself.

Scientists blast atoms with Fibonacci laser to make an 'extra' dimension of time

By Ben Turner last updated

The new phase was made by firing lasers at 10 ytterbium ions inside a quantum computer.

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image shows auroras above the poles of Jupiter.

Extreme physics of 'supercritical' matter may be surprisingly simple

By Stephanie Pappas published

At 'supercriticality,' the difference between the liquid and gas phases of a material seems to disappear. New research finds that this weird tipping point may be simpler than scientists thought.

Albert Einstein's famous equation

Why does E=mc^2?

By Paul Sutter published

Albert Einstein's famous equation E = m^2 connects energy to mass via the speed of light. Find out why E = m^2.

Atoms consist of a nucleus made of protons and neutrons orbited by electrons.

Where do electrons get energy to spin around an atom's nucleus?

By Paul Sutter published

Quantum mechanics explains why the electrons can keep spinning indefinitely.

Protons, made of three quarks, colliding

What is the strong force?

By Jim Lucas last updated

Reference The strong force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. Learn how it fits into the Standard Model of particle physics.

The solar filament bursting over the sun's northern hemisphere.

'Canyon of fire' solar storm will slam into Earth today or tomorrow

By Ben Turner last updated

The solar material was launched from a snapping solar filament

Physicists and engineers replaced the heart of the CMS experiment in 2017 to improve its ability to make precise measurements.

Large Hadron Collider switches on at highest ever power level to look for dark matter

By Ben Turner published

Physicists say the third run will collect more data than the previous two combined.

Artist's rendering of a wandering black hole. Int he center there is a black circle and surrounding it the galaxy swirl of stars warp around it.

Rogue black hole wandering Milky Way alone proves Einstein right again

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers have directly measured the mass and velocity of an isolated black hole for the first time using gravitational lensing.

Abstract image of an alarm clock against a black space-like background.

Physicists link two time crystals in seemingly impossible experiment

By Paul Sutter published

New time crystal achievement could help bridge classical and quantum physics.

An artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope, which launched on Dec. 25, 2021.

James Webb Space Telescope hit by large micrometeoroid

By Meghan Bartels last updated

NASA's next-generation space observatory has sustained its first noticeable impact less than six months after launch, but the agency isn't too concerned.

An abstract drawing of particles with squiggly waves

Physicists discover never-before seen particle sitting on a tabletop

By Robert Lea last updated

This newly-discovered particle could account for dark matter.

Best physics books- Person reading book surrounded by equations. metamorworks via Shutterstock

Best physics books: Change the way you look at the universe

By Megan Kachigan published

Here are the best physics books for anyone looking for an accessible and engaging immersion into the world of physics and wondering about our universe.

The doughnut-shaped fusion chamber of the TCV contains the superheated hydrogen plasmas in powerful magnetic fields to keep it from damaging the walls.

Physicists just rewrote a foundational rule for nuclear fusion reactors that could unleash twice the power

By Tom Metcalfe published

Future fusion reactions inside tokamaks could shine even brighter than before, thanks to groundbreaking new research to find the maximum density of the hydrogen plasma fuel that powers them.